Hot Topics:

Disagreements cited in resignation of Groton-Dunstable hockey coach

By Hiroko Sato, hsato@lowellsun.com

Updated:
12/06/2012 01:13:37 PM EST

GROTON -- The sudden resignation of Groton-Dunstable boys hockey coach Brian Payne, who guided the team to its first state championship last season, stemmed from a disagreement with the school administration over fundraising plans, according to Athletic Director Michael McCaffrey.

Yet Payne, who resigned last Friday, maintains the discord involved the entire direction of the hockey program, and the fundraising issue was only a part of it.

"The bottom line is they wanted a different guy there," Payne said.

Payne stressed that it's the principal and McCaffrey's prerogative to have a different coach in place.

"They have every right to tell the coach how to run the hockey program," Payne said. "They have every right to pick and chose a coach they want," he said, adding that McCaffrey, a graduate of Billerica Memorial High School, personally knows Phil Rowley, former Billerica coach of 14 years who has been hired to replace Payne.

"He just wanted his own coach," Payne said of McCaffrey.

McCaffrey said Tuesday that he and Principal Michael Mastrullo recently asked Payne to curtail fundraising activities. Because the School Committee has decided to raise fees for the hockey program from $400 to $600 annually, the administration felt additional fundraising efforts would create a further financial burden on the parents, McCaffrey said. Payne found their directive unacceptable, McCaffrey said.

Advertisement

"He chose to turn in his resignation rather than rework his fundraising plan," McCaffrey said of Payne.

Payne said he had a disagreement with McCaffrey and Mastrullo about fundraising. Payne believes fundraising helps offset the cost of the program and burden on families.

The true issue behind his resignation, however, is their differences over the direction of the hockey program itself, Payne said. Payne noted that the hockey team has been involved in various charitable causes, raising $5,700 three years ago for Ice ALS, the annual hockey tournament for former Dracut High School player Justin Brace. Payne had coached Brace before Brace was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis seven years ago at age 22.

This past February, the Groton-Dunstable team also played a game to pay tribute to fallen Groton Marine William Joseph Woitowicz while raising money to aid veterans. Payne said he had his own philosophy about how to educate his players "not only on the ice but off the ice."

"We did not see eye to eye how the program will go forward," Payne said about him and the school administration. "I decided to walk away."

Payne compiled a 66-8-4 record over three seasons at Groton-Dunstable, guiding to the Crusaders to the Division 3A state final in 2011, and then to the program's first state title in 2012. Groton-Dunstable defeated South Hadley, 4-3, in the Division 3A title game at MassMutal Center in Springfield. Payne was Sun All Star co-Coach of the Year in 2012.

Payne previously coached four seasons at North Middlesex (2002-05) and was an assistant coach at Assumption College for two seasons. The Littleton native is also a former youth hockey coach in Lowell.

Payne's replacement at G-D, Rowley, started his coaching career at Austin Preparatory School in Reading and brings years of experience with teams around the region, including hockey teams at Andover High School and Bishop Guertin in Nashua, as well as the lacrosse team at Central Catholic High School in Lawrence. He said he was in semi-retirement when McCaffrey called him about the position at Groton-Dunstable.

"From what I've seen so far, the kids are full of energy," Rowley said of the Groton-Dunstable team, praising the skills of the players.

McCaffrey said he called Rowley, whom he has known for some time, after Payne's sudden resignation. Payne said Rowley was hired within 24 hours after he stepped down.

"I enjoyed my time at Groton-Dunstable immensely," Payne said, adding that some players were upset to learn he had stepped down. "It's good that you know you made a difference in these kids' lives in the last couple of years," he said.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sentinel and Enterprise. So keep it civil.